AT least 3 640 of the 17 255 full-time students who wrote the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) exams last year have qualified for admission to the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia.

The figure is based on the prere-quisite requirement of a C grade at NSSC Ordinary level and a Grade Three at NSSC Higher level.

Part-time candidates were excluded because they build up subject credits over a couple of years and usually meet university admission requirements only after a series of examinations.

Last year 3 629 (or 11 fewer) students qualified for admission to Unam or the Polytechnic.

"However, if a grade D in English should also be accepted, 6 789 candidates would qualify," the Directorate of National Examination and Assessment said.

The Ministry of Basic Education yesterday described the results for full-time students as "slightly better" than the previous year, with the percentage of graded entries increasing by 0,5 per cent from 92,7 per cent to 93,2 per cent.

However, the statistics showed that there was an increase in the intermediate and lower grades (D to G) "with almost no change at the higher grades (A to C) if compared to 2008". The increase was prominent at grades E to F.

A total of 36 099 students wrote the exams at 139 examination centres countrywide last year.

Of those 18 874 (52,3 per cent) were part-time.

"On balance the 2009 results of the part-time candidates could be described as slightly poorer if compared to 2008 mainly because of the 1,2 per cent increase in ungraded entries and also because of the shift of entries from the higher to the intermediate grades," the DNEA said.

The increase in graded entries of the full-time candidates (0,5 per cent) was thus eliminated by the drop of 1,2 per cent in the part-time candidates' results.

"The shift of entries from the lower grades to the intermediate grades is welcomed whilst the lack of increase in candidates obtaining higher grades remains a challenge for the future," the Ministry said.

The majority of the part-time candidates were registered with the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol).

The results will be available on the website of the Directorate of National Examination and Assessment at www.dnea.gov.na.

The Ministry said the website would become active at 08h00 today.